Frequently Asked Questions
: Camera Setup & Sensr.net Cloud Storage

Where can I get help?

We've set up a
Sensr.net blog
that you can use if you get stuck. Here, you can find tutorial entries on setting up specific cameras, along with the latest Sensr.net news and site features. Otherwise, you can use our Feedback tab or send us an email at

What kind of network camera should I buy?

To use Sensr.net you need a network camera that supports FTP. (Almost all most network cameras support FTP these days). Using FTP is the easiest way to get images out of your camera and onto the Sensr.net site and doesn't require you to configure your firewall or memorize IP addresses.

Location

Consider where you want to locate the camera. Is there a power outlet near where you want the camera? If you have an AC outlet near your preferred location, then a wireless camera may be a good choice. If you have ethernet, but no power, then a POE (power over ethernet) camera makes sense.

When thinking about the location, try to mount the camera where there won't be a lot of distracting background motion. The computer vision code running at Sensr.net can generate motion alerts, but if there is a lot of background motion, this can be more difficult and can result in a lot of false alarms.

Problem Camera:

Too much motion generated from trees.

Better Camera:

Limited view of critical location.

Indoor vs Outdoor

Indoor cameras tend to be less expensive. If you're interested in monitoring what goes on outside, say in your driveway, then some folks choose to place a camera inside. This is cheaper than buying an outdoor camera or a camera enclosure. But having a camera in the window can severely limit your placement options. You also have to be concerned about reflections from the window. At night your window may become reflective, and your camera could end up monitoring the interior of the room instead of what is on the outside, which you may not want.

How much does it cost?

Sensr.net has plans starting at $6 up to $29 depending on your needs. These premium plans provide access to more powerful features such as: saving more or higher-res images, turning on SMS alerts, or gaining more live viewing bandwidth. To compare Sensr.net plans, check out the plans and sign up page.

How do I delete an image?

Simply click the delete button at the top right of the image and we'll delete it immediately. If you don't see the delete button, then either you're not logged in or it's not your camera. If it's not your camera then you can't delete it.

Where are my images stored?

We use Amazon's S3 service for storing your images. This means we have virtually unlimited disk space for your images.

How do images get from my camera to the Sensr.net site?

We use FTP, a standard way to move files around the internet. Most cameras support the FTP push of images. When you click the
new camera
link, we'll generate an FTP user name and password for your camera. You add this information to your camera and tell it to FTP images to us.

Can my camera be private?

Yes, when you add a camera, just make it private and you will be the only one who can view it. You can change these settings at any time in the camera settings.

How secure are the images?

Currently, we don't encrypt or password protect the images that we store for you. However the URL itself is generated using a cryptographic hash, meaning it's virtually impossible for someone to guess the URLs for your images. This means that it's possible for anyone to view the images if they have the URL to the image, even for private cameras. This means that you should not share the image URLs if you don't want others to see the images.

Who owns the images from my camera?

You do. By uploading your photos to Sensr.net you give Sensr.net permission to use or distribute your photos on sensr.net or affiliated sites.

How do I delete a camera?

Just click the
delete camera
button in the camera settings page. This will delete the camera and all the images from that camera.

Can I share my camera with others?

Cameras can be private, or public. Private cameras can only be viewed by you after logging into Sensr.net. Public cameras can be viewed by anyone, even if they aren't logged into Sensr.net. You can also share your cameras and clips on twitter and facebook, along with any public camera or clips you happen to like. Just click the
share
button and enter a description, and we'll do the rest for you.

Do you support PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) cameras?

Yes and no. If the camera supports FTP then it will work with the Sensr.net site. However, you can't control the pan, tilt, and zoom mechanisms of the camera through Sensr.net.

Can I use my computer's built-in camera?

You can, but you'll need a separate piece of software to run on your computer and FTP the images to Sensr.net. You can use any software that will FTP the images, but we've tested
EvoCam
and
CamSpinner
on the Mac. There are a number of options for Windows as well. Take a look at the
Stand-alone Programs
section of Cowboy Frank's
Webcam Software
page.

While PC cameras will work, Sensr.net is designed to support network cameras that connect directly to your home network. These cameras don't require a computer to be on in your home at all times. Since they don't have to be connected to a computer, you have a lot more flexibility in where you can locate a network camera as opposed to a USB camera.

Supported Cameras

Currently we support network cameras that can send us images through FTP, which most network cameras can do. Check to box to see if it supports FTP. If it does, then it should work with Sensr.net. Here's a list of cameras that we've tested, how to setup the cameras on Sensr.net, and where to buy them.

Foscam FI8905W Outdoor
Recommended

The Foscam FI8905W is a funky looking IP camera that lists for around $100 on Amazon. It’s one of the cheapest outdoor cameras around. Frankly it’s amazing that you can get WiFi and night vision and weatherproof for this price.

D-Link DCS-930L
Recommended

DCS-930L is a decent little camera and under $79.99 from Amazon right now.The instructions say you need a PC to set it up, but that’s not quite true. Read our guide on how to set up a D-Link DCS 930L (or 932L) on Mac or Linux and watch it on Sensr.net

Panasonic BL-C140A Outdoor MPEG-4 Network Camera
Recommended

The cheapest outdoor ready camera we've found. This one supports POE (power over ethernet) which is nice since you only need to run ethernet to where you want the camera installed. It comes with a custom power adapter that attaches to the other end of the ethernet cable.
Note:
This camera doesn't work with standard POE routers.
Important:
configuring this camera be sure to select
"Save as New File with Timestamp" in the "Overwrite setting" field
of the FTP and TIMED upload screens.